Abstract
Sexually dimorphic characteristics can signal high genetic fitness and parasite resistance in intersexual selection; and individuals choose and prefer mates who appear resistant to parasites. Furthermore, sexually dimorphic traits can indicate intrasexual competitiveness. Beards are a sexually dimorphic trait, and in the current study we investigate the relationship between pathogen prevalence, income inequality and beardedness in men. Using publicly available data from The World’s Muslims’ dataset (PEW Research Center), encompassing more than 14,000 individuals from 25 countries, we test the hypotheses that men wear beards where the pathogen stress is higher and male-male competition is more prevalent. Our results show that beardedness in men is predicted by pathogen prevalence as well as GINI coefficient. Overall, the results of this study provide support for the Hamilton-Zuk parasite-mediated sexual selection hypothesis, indicating that men wear beards in environments where the parasitic stress is higher (in order to signal their vigor, health, and ability to resist parasites in such environments), and where there is more prevalence of male-male competition (indicated by higher wealth inequality).
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